Chapter 34

I froze, my mind numb as though I had thrust it into frigid water during winter. I simply couldn't comprehend a world without Alice. She was my best friend. We had worked, slept, and played next to each other for nearly ten years. What would I do without her big amber eyes flashing as she cajoled me into a hare-brained scheme?

Frank raged. He howled at the sky while he dug his fists into the dirt as though he could find Alice under the grass. I understood his need to find her; I had nearly torn the countryside apart in the dark looking, myself. Now I would forever wish I had. While my friend had crazy powers of persuasion, they only worked on the living. No matter how hard she may have batted her eyelashes, I hadn't seen anyone wheedle their way out of a vermin's clutches.

I dropped to the ground, trying to comprehend that Alice was gone. We had all wanted her to return safe and sound, but we had to confront the evidence?scuff marks on the ground, a discharged rifle, and a finger.